[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 78 (Friday, April 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19985-19986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10220]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 11659-000]


Gustavus Electric Company of Gustavus, Alaska; Notice of Scoping 
Meetings, Site Visit, and Soliciting Additional Comments on the Request 
to Use Alternative Licensing Procedures

April 19, 1999.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC or Commission) 
Regulations provide applicants with the option of preparing their own 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for hydropower projects, and filing this 
applicant prepared environmental assessment (APEA) with their 
application as part of an alternative licensing procedure (ALP).\1\ On 
February 17, 1999, the Commission received a request from Gustavus 
Electric Company (GEC) to use the ALP in the preparation of a license 
application for the proposed Kahtaheena River (Falls Creek) Project, 
No. 11659. On March 9, 1999, the Commission issued a notice requesting 
comments on the applicant's use of this process. A Commission decision 
regarding the use of this process is still pending; however, contingent 
on subsequent Commission approval of the use of this process, we are 
proceeding with scoping, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969, at this time.
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    \1\ 81 FERC para. 61,103 (1997).
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    The alternative procedures include provisions for the distribution 
of an initial information package, and for the cooperative scoping of 
environmental issues and needed studies. On December 1, 1998, GEC 
distributed their initial information document (ICD). On January 19 and 
20, 1999, GEC held two public meetings to discuss the ICD and conducted 
a visit of the proposed project site. On April 5, 1999, GEC distributed 
their Scoping Document 1 (SD1).\2\ As part of scoping, GEC has 
scheduled two public meetings to discuss the information presented in 
SD1, primarily the alternatives and issues to be evaluated in any APEA 
which may be prepared by GEC if it is subsequently approved to use the 
ALP in preparation of a license application. In addition to 
participating in the scoping meetings and site visit, Commission staff 
will use this opportunity to answer questions and take comments about 
the use of the ALP. Participation in these meetings will not prejudice 
any rights or future participation by the Department of the Interior or 
any of its subsidiary agencies.
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    \2\ Copies of the ICD and SDI can be obtained by calling Lani 
Joslin at 907-697-2299.
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Scoping Meetings

    GEC will hold public scoping meetings on May 6 and 7, 1999, 
pursuant to NEPA. At the scoping meetings, GEC will: (1) Summarize the 
environmental issues tentatively identified for analysis in the EA; (2) 
outline any resources they believe would not require a detailed 
analysis; (3) identify reasonable alternatives to be addressed in the 
EA; (4) solicit from the meeting participants all available 
information, especially quantitative data, on the resources at issue; 
and (5) encourage statements from experts and the public on issues that 
should be analyzed in the EA.
    GEC has requested to use the ALP and prepare an APEA for inclusion 
in its application; however, there is the possibility that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would be required. If the 
Commission subsequently approves the applicant's request to use the 
ALP, these meetings would serve to satisfy the NEPA scoping 
requirements, regardless of whether an EA or EIS is issued by the 
Commission and/or any other participating federal agencies.\3\
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    \3\ The Glacier Bay National Park Boundary Adjustment Act of 
1998 designates the National Park Service (NPS) ad a joint lead 
agency with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the 
preparation of any environmental document under NEPA for this 
project. FERC and NPS have initiated discussions to address how this 
joint lead designation would be coordinated.
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    The times and locations of the scoping meeting are:

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          Evening scoping meeting              Morning scoping meeting
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May 6, 1999, 7:00 p.m. Multipurpose Room,   May 7, 1999, 1:00 p.m., King
 Gustavus School, Gustavus, Alaska.          Conference Room, Alaska
                                             Dept. of Fish & Game, 802
                                             Third Street, Douglas
                                             Alaska.
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    All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited 
and encouraged to attend any or all of the meetings to assist in 
identifying and clarifying the scope of environmental issued that 
should be analyzed in the EA.

Scoping Meeting Procedures

    These scoping meetings will be conducted consistent with the 
procedures used at Commission scoping meetings. Commission staff will 
attend the meetings on May 6 and 7, 1999. These meetings would serve to 
address the Commission's scoping requirements under NEPA if the 
applicant is subsequently approved to use the ALP. Regardless of 
whether the applicant's request to use the ALP is approved, the 
Commission may reconvene scoping during the post-filing period if it is 
needed.

Commenting Deadline

    Both scoping meetings will be recorded and the transcripts will 
become part of the formal record of the proceedings for this project. 
Those who choose not to speak during the scoping meetings may instead 
submit written comments on the project. written comments should be 
mailed to: Mr. Richard Levitt, Gustavus Electric Company, P.O. Box 102, 
Gustavus, AK 99826.
    All correspondence should be postmarked no later than July 7, 1999. 
Comments should show the following caption on the first page: Scoping 
Comments, Kahtaheena River (Falls Creek) Project, Project No. 11659.

Site Visit

    GEC has scheduled a tour of the proposed project site on Thursday, 
May 6, 1999. This site visit will require

[[Page 19986]]

hiking approximately 5 to 6 miles over rugged terrain and it is 
expected to take approximately 6 hours to complete. Those wishing to 
attend the site visit must notify Richard Levitt of GEC at (907) 697-
2299 by April 30, 1999. Site visit participants should meet at Gustavus 
Dray Gas Station in Gustavus at 8:30 a.m. or at the end of Rink Creek 
Road at 9:00 a.m.

    For further information please contact Richard Levitt of GEC at 
(907) 697-2299 or Bob Easton of the Commission at (202) 219-2782.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-10220 Filed 4-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M